Dear Parents,

Excitement is building across the school with the three performances of the school play ‘Animal Utopia’ taking place next week. Don’t forget to get your tickets from the front office.

New staff member

Ms Brigid Kearney is taking Maternity Leave from St Mary’s from the start of week six. We wish Brigid and her partner Jack all the best as they embark on the adventures of parenthood.

Following recent interviews I am pleased to announce that Mrs Amelia Bowden will be teaching 2K for the remainder of the year. Amelia joins us from New Medinah College and we welcome her to the St Mary's school community.

Interim Reports & Three Way Conferences

This week parents will be able to access their child’s Interim Report via Compass. The interim report gives parents an indication of how their child is applying themselves to their work as well as living out school values. This is the first year we have used these and we are aware some changes need to be made.

In our recent ‘Tell Them From Me’ survey a parent raised concerns that there were no comments. As a school we have moved away from comments and are placing a greater emphasis on face to face meetings with parents. 

Our next series of parent/teacher interviews or three way conferences are scheduled for Wednesday 23rd August. These are a little different in that your child comes to the interview and teachers can highlight areas of strength and areas for development. This allows for the student to see that their parents value what they do at school while for the older students it allows for them to discuss goals for the remainder of the year.

Parents can discuss what was in the interim report should they wish. There are four formal opportunities for parents to meet with their child’s teacher over the year. This discussion is much richer than a small written paragraph.

Details of the three way conferences will be sent home next week.

NAPLAN 2023 - State, Sector and National Average Score Comparisons

What An Achievement !

The staff and students were delighted when our NAPLAN results for 2023 were released.

Both Year Three and Year Five exceeded state and national averages across all domains and by a substantial margin.

The results reflect the hard work of staff and students, our intervention programs and the focus on the foundation skills needed in both Numeracy and Literacy.

Congratulations to staff and students. You should be proud of the results St Mary’s has achieved in 2023.

 PUBLIC SPEAKING

Congratulations to the following students who represented St Mary’s today in Grenfell at the school speak-off with St Josephs. 

We are very pleased to report that after today’s speak-off we have 4 students going through to the WR Public Speaking Finals which will be held here at St Mary’s on Monday 21st August. Parents will receive information regarding arrangements on the day next week.

Congratulations to the following students who will represent St Marys at the Western Region Public Speaking Finals:

Ezra Sharpe Year, Amity Sullivan, Jesse Gault and Eli Terry

Kind Regards

Mrs Katie Thompson

GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. 'Lord,' he said, 'it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.' When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, 'Stand up, do not be afraid.' And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus. As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, 'Tell no one about this vision until the Son of man has risen from the dead.'

REFLECTION

It’s only been six days since Jesus rebuked Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” for not understanding picking up the cross as the purpose of Jesus’ life and the only way for disciples to follow. Now blinded by the light Peter wants to stay put and dwell permanently on the mountaintop. It’s the voice, “LISTEN TO HIM” that shuts Peter up and overcome by fear he and his companions faint dead away. It takes the touch and voice of Jesus, “get up and do not be afraid” to wake them and then sworn to secrecy they descend to the less frightening and more familiar places on the plain. It’s a strange story but then that’s the nature of a theophany. The recognizable transfigured into the mysterious as the Jesus who ate and drank with disciples in the valley glows like a nuclear reactor on the mountain top while talking to the long gone lawgiver and end time prophet about God knows what. So we who are comfortable with “What a friend we have in Jesus” also sing “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” and hold the two in tension. The familiar and friendly Jesus is the One who in the beginning was the Word and in the end will be the judge and jury of all. It may be that in our end, when we come face to face with that terrifying reality, we will faint dead away, but then I’m trusting that the Lord Jesus will touch us and “Get up and do not be afraid” will be the only Word we hear. (Pastor Pete)

PRAYER SERVICE AND LITURGY

Thanks to Years 1 and 2 who led us in a beautiful prayer service on Monday celebrating St Mary of the Cross. Next Monday, Year 4 will be leading the school in a prayer service celebrating The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We extend a warm welcome to all members of our school community to join us in the Hall at 8:50am.

Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to cancel the Years 1 and 2 liturgy which was to be held next Friday. We thank you for your understanding.

CONFIRMATION

A pack has gone home with all students celebrating their Confirmation today.  The pack includes a mass attendance sheet, a mass booklet to help them follow and understand the mass and a form for all families to complete their sponsor and Saint’s name. We thank all families for their support in helping to prepare your children for this special sacrament.

God Bless,

Warren Ziebowski

(Religious Education Coordinator)

Harden Trent Barrett Legends Gala Day

A spectacular day of footy was had by all yesterday in Harden. Thank you to the students who participated with enthusiasm and great school spirit! Thank you to Mr Ziebowksi for attending with the students and to our team managers Justine Neilsen, Kylie Owen & Ebony Morris for giving up their time to support our players. Thank you also to the NRL for putting on such a well organised event once again. Could all players please return their washed shirt, shorts and socks to Mrs Challen in the STEM room to have their name marked off.

Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival

Permissions are now open on Compass for students to participate in the upcoming Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival on Friday October 20th. The organisers are asking us to nominate teams by the end of next week - so these permissions will close on Friday 18th August. Please ensure you have opted in by this date to ensure a spot in a team. Once teams are full we are unable to add any further players.

Students in Year 2 to 6 may play either netball OR touch football. You can be an experienced player or one that wants to have a try! Teams will consist of 10 players for both Netball and Touch Football. The cost is $6 per child payable via Compass or to the Front Office. Payment must be made prior to Friday 18th August. It is a fantastic day with teams participating from all around!

If you have any questions please contact me at school or via email.

League Tags

A very big thank you to Kylie Owen for giving us a class set of League Tags. We are very grateful for your generosity and I am sure they will be put to good use!!

Basketball at St Mary’s

It is now Kindergarten and Year 4’s turn for their sessions!! Next week the session will be held on Friday due to the Whole School Production. All students in Kindergarten and Year 4 will need to wear their sports uniform on Friday next week.

Please see below:

Weeks 5 Sport Days

Kindergarten -  Wednesday & Friday

Year 4 - Friday (Tuesday is a casual clothes day)

Weeks 6 & 7 Sport Days

Kindergarten -  Wednesday & Friday

Year 4 - Tuesday & Wednesday

Other class sessions:

Year 5 & 6 - Weeks 8, 9 & 10

Archdiocesan Athletics Relay Training

We will be holding another session of training for our relay teams with Mr Phil McInerney next Friday 18th August. Could all relay teams attending (Jnr Girls, Snr boys & girls) please ensure they have joggers with them. 

Congratulations to the Year 3 and 4 students who attended the Trent Barrett Legends Gala Day yesterday, at Roberts Park in Harden. The weather was very kind to us and a fun day was had by all as we rotated through our matches. A huge thanks to our coaches for the day, Justine Neilsen, Kylie and Marc Owen and Judd Morris. Also, thanks to all of the parents who came along to support us. A special congratulations to Tom McKnight, Annabelle Carson and Jye Ralph who won best and fairest! A wonderful day was had by all.

As you may have heard, our students are busily preparing for our whole school production of Animal Utopia. We are very excited to be performing in our first ‘live’ production since 2018.

The performances will take place in Week 5. There will be 2 sessions on Tuesday 14th August - a matinee session at 12pm and a night session at 6.30pm. The 3rd session will be on Wednesday 15th August at 6.30pm. The sessions will run for approximately 2 – 2.5hrs. 

Each child has a role in the production and will need to attend each of the 3 sessions. During all three sessions students are supervised in a classroom by teachers and will remain there until the end of the production.

Due to limited space students will need to remain in the classrooms rather than joining parents in the hall. Students will have an opportunity to watch the whole performance during the dress rehearsal.

What will Week 5 look like?

Monday - full dress rehearsal. Students in full costume in the hall to watch the run through of the performance. 

Tuesday - Matinee performance at 12pm. Arrival and departure from school as normal. Tuesday will be a casual clothes day as it will be easier for us to get them in and out of costumes without losing ties and stockings etc!!! Students return to school between 5.30 - 5.45pm to be dressed in costumes. Supervision will be provided from 5.30pm. Classroom allocations can be found below. It would be a good idea for the students to eat prior to arriving at night and they are welcome to bring snacks with them to eat as they need. Remember they are in their costumes so maybe not sticky food!!!

Wednesday - normal school day (perhaps somewhat relaxed!) 

Students return to school between 5.30 - 5.45pm to be dressed in costumes. Classroom allocations can be found below. It would be a good idea for the students to eat prior to arriving at night and they are welcome to bring snacks with them to eat as they need. Remember they are in their costumes so maybe not sticky food!!!

At the end of the performance we will ask you to give us about 15 minutes or so to change the students out of their costumes before you collect them from their allocated classroom.

 Thursday - normal school day. A relaxed day with class programming adjusted depending on the number of students that attend.

 Admission

There will be limited seating available for each session. Admission can be obtained from the front office for a $5 donation per person/per event. Seating is not allocated and the doors will open at 11.30am for the matinee and 6pm for the night performances. Admission tickets are available from the front office now!

Costumes

Most costumes will be provided. If there is anything required to be brought from home this will be communicated by your child’s class teacher, along with any hair and make up requirements.

Supervision Areas for Night Performance

On the 30th of July, we celebrated National Tree Day. Unfortunately due to the wet, St Mary’s had to delay the planting of our tree. We are pleased to say that due to some much improved weather, the tree was able to be planted in the school vegetable garden where it has settled in very well. We would like to send out a huge thank you to Golden Glance Nursery for their very generous donation of our Lemon Tree. We can’t wait to be making lemonade!

As part of our Book Week celebrations, we will be holding a Book Character Parade. Students (Kinder – Year 6) are invited to come to school dressed as their favourite book character.  Please ensure that costumes are warm and are suitable for outdoor play.   

Our Book Character Parade will take place on Friday, 8^th September at 12:30pm.